Quantum Networking Polarization compensation module
Monitoring and compensate polarization drift in Quantum Networks
Quantum networking is gradually moving from isolated laboratory experiments toward deployed testbeds. Yet the transition from experimental runs to operated quantum networks requires automatic procedures for monitoring, calibration and compensation of practical impairments. In polarization-based quantum links -- one of the most common implementations - the key impairment is polarization drift induced by environmental changes such as temperature fluctuations, mechanical stress and vibrations in optical fibres, which can significantly degrade quantum-network performance indicators. This project will develop an open-source software for monitoring and compensating polarization drift using polarization controllers based on the widely-adopted HWP-QWP-HWP configuration. The module will be validated over deployed metropolitan-scale quantum links, with documentation and tests to support reproducible use by other researchers and engineers.
Run by Quantuminternet.it
This project was funded through the NGI0 Commons Fund, a fund established by NLnet with financial support from the European Commission's Next Generation Internet programme, under the aegis of DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology under grant agreement No 101135429. Additional funding is made available by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
